Pengassan Demands Single Authority In PPPRA

The Petroleum and Natu
ral Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has demanded for single authority in the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to avoid the present state of confusion in the agency.
A statement issued by the union in Lagos on Wednesday signed by Acting Secretary General, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, denied the union’s meddlesomeness in the affairs of the agency stressing that the union does not have any interest on who is appointed  the acting executive secretary of  PPPRA but concerned about the agency having single authority in strict compliance with the laid down procedures.
Okugbawa said that the national body of the union had not supported at any time the two contending personalities who are currently occupying the position thereby creating a state of confusion in the agency stressing that the union just demanded for a strong structure without confusion in the agency.
The union’s scribe also said that the leadership of the union did not mind wherever the acting executive secretary comes from as the union is only concerned that there should be a single point of authority for the union members and other staff, who are confused on their reporting line.
The Tide learnt that PPPRA has been enveloped in crisis of leadership over the authentic acting executive secretary position, the former Executive Secretary had handed over to Mr Moses Mbaba as the most senior officer in the agency, while Mrs Sotonye Iyoyo a senior staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Port Harcourt Zonal Office was appointed acting executive Secretary of the PPPRA by the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum, Dr Kachikwu Ibe.
The Pengassan leadership has insisted on Mr Moses Mbaba taking over as the acting executive secretary of the agency as against the Honourable Minister’s directive and flagrant disobedience to the power of the minister.
A senior member of the Union in Port Harcourt who spoke to The Tide and pleaded anonymity, condemned in totality the meddlesomeness of the PENGASSAN leadership in the affairs of the agency, adding it might set a dangerous precedent for other bodies and trade unions in future.
He said that Iyoyo must be allowed to assume duties as the authentic acting executive secretary of the agency without the union clearly showing vested interest in the affairs of the agency.